Royal Challengers Bangalore have become the second side after Delhi Daredevils to get eliminated off the IPL this season. On the other hand, Rajasthan Royals have registered their seventh victory in 14 games to keep their season hopes alive.

The Royals have now entered the elite club with a two-point lead over the other two playoff contenders—Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab, but their Net Run Rate (NRR) is still in minus, which could result in the Rohit-led men replacing RR due to a superior NRR, should Mumbai win their last clash against Delhi Daredevils.

However, RR’s 30-run triumph over RCB has definitely put KXIP and MI under pressure and KXIP will have to more than just winning their next clash because of their poor NRR. KKR’s result against SRH will also play a big part in deciding the fate of the teams in the playoff race.

The clash between RR and RCB on Saturday (May 19), saw the former batting first after winning the toss. With Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes out due to their international commitments, the Rajasthan-based franchise decided to promote Jofra Archer to the opening slot. But that certainly didn’t pay them off as Archer returned to the pavilion for a duck.

After that early strike from Umesh Yadav, RR needed a good partnership and Rahul Tripathy gave the team just that by sharing a 99-run partnership with the skipper, Ajinkya Rahane. Yadav then hit a brace to send Rahane and Sanju Samson back to the hut. Rahane played a 31-run innings which was followed by another crucial knock of 32 runs by Heinrich Klaasen.

Following Klaasen’s departure at the hands of Mohammad Siraj, Krishnappa Gowtham clubbed a 5-ball cameo of 14 runs and helped RR reach 164 runs with Tripathy unbeaten on 80 runs at the other end.

In reply, RCB lost their captain in the third over as Gowtham bowled Kohli out for 4 runs. The team then saw Parthiv Patel and AB de Villiers form an important 55-run stand, which was broken by Shreyas Gopal.

The RR spinner unleashed his wrath to initiate a collapse in RCB’s batting line-up. He quickly removed Parthiv Patel, Moeen Ali, and Mandeep Singh and then scalped de Villiers’ wicket after another strike from Ish Sodhi. Gopal returned his IPL career-best figures of 4-0-16-4 and singlehandedly threw RCB out of the race.

From 75-1, RCB were bundled out for 134 in 19.2 overs as each of Jaydev Unadkat and Ben Laughlin picked up two wickets to wipe out the tail. A half-century from de Villiers along with another 33-run innings by Parthiv went in vain as no other batsmen from the RCB camp were able to surpass even 15 runs.

 

Scores:

RR 164/5 (20 Overs)